More breakage on G.H. glass!

[Bob in Albany N.Y.]

Damn, I'm pissed. I've had a greenhouse for about 4 years. I know we placed it along side a hugh tree. I've had the tree trimmed not once but twice yet another branch has broken threw the greenhouse. It happened last year as well. At least this time it's not in the dead of winter. Last time we had lots of other damage due to an ice storm so I ran it threw the insurance and had someone come out and make the glass and fix the glass. This time it's on me. Luckily, I have an extra piece of double plain glass ready to go. The last broken glass was on the end and could be reached easily. This time it's higher up and more to the center. The only way I can think of getting to it is to sloooooowly drop a ladder across the whole greenhouse from top to bottom. That should give me something to walk on. I can probable clean up the 4 foot pain of glass from inside the greenhouse as it is actually in the asile. I might even try putting it in from the inside but that glass so just so heavy and then it still needs to be pressed down from the outside. I wanted a g.h. so bad and now it is getting more and more frustrating. I already had the furnace guy in once this year. Oh, where does it stop. Only good thing is it's not that cold and no snow for a while. I plan on taking Friday off and working on it with my dear wife by my side.

Sorry, I had to rant, but I just had too get it out of my system. Thanks for listening.

 

[NYEric]

Why don't you switch to a plastic pane?

 

[JeanLux]

this is too bad!!! But I understand how you are feeling very well!!! After an internal fight (with my fam. members) for over 3 years and 1 first costy trimming (sev. 100s Euro), it was decided to let take away our over 20 years time well established oak tree from the side of my gh this spring. It definitely gave too much shade in the morning till midday, and was risking to break up the concrete basement of my gh with very possible impact on my glass windows. Another cost of several 100s Euro.

The positive thing is that my plants got a lot more light this year.

Jean

 

[smartie2000]

Well at least I know to consider trees when one day I decide to build my own GH. Somehow I had an image of one beside a tree in my mind....not any more

 

[Scott Ware]

Sorry Bob - I think you're right about being lucky it didn't happen in the dead of Winter. It never stops - Gilda was right - it's always SOMETHING. If it ain't one thing, it's another. I think she must have been an orchid grower.

And as Jean alluded to there is another more long-term consequence of building a greenhouse near a tree that is just now being experienced by a friend of mine. 25+ years ago he built his Sun-Glo greenhouse right next to a 30"+ caliper Port Orford Cedar tree. Over the years he experienced 2 or 3 falling branch mishaps just like you did, but now there is a bigger problem. The tree's root growth has heaved one side of the greenhouse a couple inches higher than the other - knee wall and all. This has thrown the building out of square and the door won't open or shut easily, and the return air shutters are sticking because they are now also out of square. If this were a glass greenhouse I'm sure it would only be a matter of time before the panels began to crack and break. Seems trees and greenhouses don't mix well.

 

[Bob in Albany N.Y.]

The good thing is the hugh 100 year old tree shades the greenhouse in the heat of the summer. Then in the winter the leaves fall and more light gets in during the dull winter months. When they first arrived to put up the greenhouse they started putting in double pain polycarbonate on the roof. I had paid alot of additional money for the double pain glass so insisted on that. They lookeed at the contract and agreed. Looking back maybe I could have spent less money and had the polycarbonate. One reason I didn't want it was that it made the greenhouse darker. Plus I thought it looked funny with poly. on the roof and glass on the sides. Looking back, it really doesn't matter as the shade cloth covers the roof. I also wonder if the polycarbonate would shatter. Then again it would be light and easier to replace. Oh, if we one could only go back in time.

 

[NYEric]

There are many kinds and colors of plastic which can be cut to shape...

 

[Candace]

Bob, polycarb won't shatter like glass, but it can get dented, scratched and could break I suppose, under enough weight. If the roof is under shadecloth most of the time, if it were me, I'd maybe start replacing any broken panes with polycarb. Eventually you may have a full polycarb roof:< Plus polycarb has a higher "R" value than glass. Polycarb comes in a range of tints or clear.

Now that you know the glass can and has shattered(twice), I'd be worried about safety. At least with a polycarb roof you wouldn't end up picking glass shards out of your head. Ouch.

 

[SlipperFan]

You guys are scaring me to death!

 

[cnycharles]

though glass can last a very long time in a spot with nothing falling, double poly also can last a long time and can take hits and even walking on it (with a structure underneath). It's lighter, so when you have to replace something you can carry it in your hands or just slide it up the roof. there are special ladders for replacing panes of glass up on a roof; or you can make your own with flat pieces of plywood on the bottom with sunk nails or screws so no sharp or metal pieces on the bottom, and whatever sort of steps that you would like on the top for walking. on the very top section you would need a section of wood to stick down over the peak so that it'll stay up there. I think we have one that has metal long frame two parallel running up, with plywood sections on bottom. stiffer the better for up/down long frame, so that sagging doesn't put pressure into the glass. usually greenhouse glass can take a fair amount of bending believe it or not, but under no circumstances hit it on an edge or pinch an edge on metal or it will shatter

 

[aquacorps]

Is Elvira ok?

 

[Bob in Albany N.Y.]

Russ, Yes she is. I'll always watch out for that women

 

[Ron-NY]

snow in forecast here on Fri fingers crossed for you for you are further south than I am

 

[Ray]

Bob,

Definitely go for the polycarb on the roof. It does not reduce the light so significantly that it would make a difference, unless you're shooting for vandas.

My GH is under a big tree also (tulip poplar over 100'), which is why I need no shade cloth in the summer. It's a dirty, awful mess though, and requires me to pressure wash the GH at least annually. This current polycarb cover is 8 years old, has been struck by limbs MANY times, and only has a few dings, and has never broken at all.

 

[Ross]

though glass can last a very long time in a spot with nothing falling, double poly also can last a long time and can take hits and even walking on it (with a structure underneath). It's lighter, so when you have to replace something you can carry it in your hands or just slide it up the roof. there are special ladders for replacing panes of glass up on a roof; or you can make your own with flat pieces of plywood on the bottom with sunk nails or screws so no sharp or metal pieces on the bottom, and whatever sort of steps that you would like on the top for walking. on the very top section you would need a section of wood to stick down over the peak so that it'll stay up there. I think we have one that has metal long frame two parallel running up, with plywood sections on bottom. stiffer the better for up/down long frame, so that sagging doesn't put pressure into the glass. usually greenhouse glass can take a fair amount of bending believe it or not, but under no circumstances hit it on an edge or pinch an edge on metal or it will shatter

I plan on using at least triple wall polycarbonate when I finally build because of the r factor(2.4) and strength. There is also a 6 wall polycarbonate sheet available with an r factor of 3.7, but there is a substantially higher cost along with a much lower light transmission. https://www.sundancesupply.com/index2.html

 

[Bob in Albany N.Y.]

Ross, thanks for the link. Lots of good information there. At this time I haven't had the greenhouse long enough or the heart to tell Donna that I want to make changes. Nor the finances to do so at this time. Luckily I have a few extra pieces of double pain glass that Texas Greenhouse left with me jut for such occasions. Will have to wait and see how long between each window breakage.

Ray, as a matter of fact I do have around 100 vandas sitting at the peak of the greenhouse.

Thanks everyone for your input.

 

[SlipperKing]

Bob,
Remember this thread? The side wall is firberglass and had to be replaced but the endwalls and opposite side is all ploycarb. It bent but didn't break! After replacing the 2X4's the poly popped right back on.
http://www.slippertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9587

 

[Bob in Albany N.Y.]

Just wanted to let you all know that today with the help of my wife we replaced the greenhouse window. Rob had P.M. me and given us some good advise as to how to fix it. Yea, it's all fixed.

 

[SlipperKing]

good deal!

 

[rdlsreno]

Good!

Ramon